My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.

On with the interview:Q. What
was the very first idea you had that got you started on this book?

A. It began with the premise of two women, one black and one white,
who are lifelong best friends. It tickled my sense of whimsy to pick names more
commonly associated with one race and do a switcheroo. Ergo, the white gal
became Pearl, and the black gal, Candy. The story built layer by
layer from there.

Q. What's your writing process like? Did it change
as you worked on the novel?

A. I started with a basic
(very basic) outline of what I wanted to happen, chapter by chapter, and then
began filling in all the empty spaces by writing the stories from points A to B
in longhand. Needless to say, I went through a lot of notebooks, but my brain
seemed to function better with a pen in my hand than by staring at a blank
computer screen. When I typed each chapter into my (believe it or not) Apple
IIE, I did the first edits as I went along. Since so many years elapsed since
that first draft and the day I pulled it out of the closet and decided to scan
it into my PC and give it another go, I’ve become more comfortable doing edits
and rewrites directly in the computer. Even so, when I get stuck, I still
revert to paper and pen.

Q.What have you learned about publishing a book
that might be helpful to other writers?

A. If you aren’t qualified
to design a topnotch cover and do a professional formatting job, pay someone
who is. If you aren’t a
pain-in-the-patootie stickler for proper spelling and grammar, (like I am)
consider hiring a professional editor, as well.
Nothing will ruin an otherwise good story faster than lousy formatting
and poor editing.

Q.How much of you is in Pearl, or in other
characters? Is Pearl's family based on your family, or on people you've known?

A. Pearl is unique in some ways, but I also think of her as
Everywoman. She and I share many common traits, but I think most women will see
something of themselves in her. By the same token, many male readers seem to be
identifying with George. No characters are directly based on people I’ve known,
but I think most writers borrow memorable attributes, whether good or bad, from
people who’ve made an impression on them.

Q.If the book were made into a movie, and you got
to choose the actors, whom would you pick?

A. I’m gonna punt this one right back atcha. Once upon a
time, I imagined Jane Fonda as Pearl, but unlike us, she’s gotten older, and
would no longer fit the part. I don’t watch enough movies to be up-to-date on
actors, so you guys tell me. Here’s what we need in three 50-something roles: a
short attractive blonde to play Pearl; a tall slender black woman with
chocolate-colored skin, almond-shaped eyes and short Afro… oh, and of regal
bearing and grace, to play Candy; a tall man with a lot more face to wash than
there used to be, (i.e. balding) thickening around the middle, with a boyish
grin. All need to be equally adept at playing comedic and dramatic roles. Lots
more roles, but let’s leave it at these three. (Unless you have some scathingly
brilliant ideas, Janie.)

Jane Junebug says: I would cast Meryl Streep as Pearl because only the best will do for this part. I think Viola Davis would be great as Candy. How about Tommy Lee Jones for George?

Q.Are you working on another book? If you are,
please tell us a little about what we can expect in the future.

A. Yes, and it’s a lot more
ambitious than this one. Depending on how it plays out, Blast Rites
(tentative title) may turn out to be three books, or one long-assed book split
into three parts. In the first part, a man lies his way into the good graces of
a Korean War widow, who refuses to believe her daughter Samantha’s complaints
about him. When he dies in a mysterious explosion, Mom blames Sam for his
death. Part two takes place during Sam’s stay in a girls’ reform school. What’s
totally cool is not only have I found info about a reform school that existed
in Maryland during the time frame of my story, but have found and joined an
online group with women who were actually in there! (How cool is that?) The
third part takes place after Sam is released from the reform school, and
becomes a student at the University of Maryland. I have some reeeeally
delicious twists planned for this last part.

Q.Who are your favorite writers and what are your
favorite books?

A. That would be a very long list. Just to name a handful: Michael
Crichton, Jodi Picault, Iris Johansen, Stuart Woods, (more his earlier stuff
than recent) Tami Hoag, and Anne Tyler. LOTS, lots more. I love a bazillion books, but one of my
favorites is A Prayer for Owen Meany , by John Irving. The brilliant way
he tied up all the story lines at the end had me all but cheering.

Q.I think you're very witty. Does your family
think you're funny, or do they roll your eyes when you say something
hilarious?

A. I’ve been known to get a few eye rolls and groans from
them, but for the most part, they’re an appreciative audience.

Q.Do you laugh at your own jokes?

A. Heck, yeah! But it’s also a lot of fun to say something
outrageous with a deadpan expression.
Like one time, my mother and I were sitting side-by-side on the sofa
with our feet resting on the coffee table. Everybody was just sitting around
watching television, no talking. Boooooring. So I turned to my mother and said,
“Are my feet in your way?” She said no, so I moved my feet a teensy bit, and
said, “Are they in your way now?” Again, she said no, so I moved them again.
When I asked the third time, she cracked up.
And popped me one.

Thank you, Susan, for answering my questions. Gentle Readers, if you don't follow Susan at I Think; Therefore, I Yam, then I think you'll want to start. Now. Check her out. She's so funny and interesting.

Okay...I just bought this for my Kindle. That one-click purchase thing on Amazon is going to be the death of me. I also bought Treadwell on your recommendation. I now have 7,365,254,982,354 downloaded books on my Kindle. And I have no time to read. But once I'm finished dragging my head through the Game of Thrones series, I'll be onto other things...

Thanks, LittleMyoo. I appreciate it, and hope you enjoy Pearl's story. I know what you mean about how easy it is to buy books for Kindle. It can be downright dangerous. So many books, so little time...

Seriously, we bloggers are constantly bombarded about all the new books, books, and more books on the market, and it'd be impossible to keep up with and read all of 'em, even if we wanted to. (Annoying, isn't it?) If "Hot Flashes & Cold Lemonade" sounds like your kinda book and finds its way onto your reading list, I'll thank you kindly and hope you enjoy it.

I'm about 1/4 through the book, but hadn't caught on to the Pearl/Candy switcheroo. But as soon as Susan explained it, it made total sense to me. It's just what Susan would do. And it made me laugh.

Before I read Janie's suggestions for actors, I immediately thought "Meryl Streep" and "Tommy Lee Jones." Hah! For Candy, I was thinking Halle Berry, but when I googled Viola Davis, I have to agree she might be a better choice.